NCAA NIT thoughts

In case you missed it. The NCAA bought the NIT basketball tournaments. This is a big deal for me. Here's a little background. The NIT was suing because the NCAA was doing what every good monopoly should do and that's put the competition out of business. The NIT is the longest running basketball tournament. However, the NCAA had a rule that if a college was given an invite to the NCAA tournament; it could not turn that invitation down and instead play in the NIT tournament. The NIT was suing the NCAA because of this rule and it appeared that they were going to win the case. The NCAA then did what any self respecting monopoly would do and that was buy the competition. Now here is why this is a big deal. If the NCAA had not bought the NIT, the NIT probably would have won the case. Now an NCAA team would have the choice which tournament to play in. Not normally a big deal. Who wouldn't choose the NCAA tournament over the NIT? How about a team with an Indian mascot? You remember the ruling about mascots and the NCAA? If not look at the Myles Brand post.

Why is this such a big deal? Let's take Illinois as an example. Last year Illinois had an incredible season. They went 32-1. This year it's reasonable to expect them to have a chance to win the Big Ten again. Let's say they go to the Big Ten Championship game and win securing the automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. Then, angry about the Chief Illiniwek ban, use their new option and choose the NIT tournament. The NCAA selection committee releases the brackets less than two hours after the end of the Big Ten Championship. This would have caused a huge mess for the NCAA. Then what if FSU, CMU, or Utah, all teams that have been in the NCAA tournament in the past had made the same decision. Bedlam. I only wish we could have seen it happen.